The V4 Space Summer School
„Shared roots, shared comms!”
Become a part of the student team designing Visegrad Group`s communication satellite. Join the space technologies training and mentoring program!
About the project
Slovaks, Czechs, Hungarians and Poles have lived in Central Europe for several centuries. Communication between them creates vibrant trade routes, rich cities and cultural ties that bind this part of Europe. Now the time has come to venture together into the future. Are we ready to work together to create innovative space solutions? Do we have the technical skills and capabilities? Do we have the political will to find organisational solutions?
The V4 Space Summer School is a training and mentoring scheme for 24 students from Visegrad countries. The goal - to bolster V4 cooperation and create resilient communication infrastructure. Participants will holistically tackle the challenge by creating technical designs, but also programmatic strategies to navigate the political and business landscape - just like they would in a real-world mission proposal.
During the programme you will work in an international team gaining hands-on experience on how to design the space mission. The programme will give you the opportunity to meet experts from industry, academia and NGOs, working together in Concurrent Design Facility (CDF) activities to gain hands-on experience on how to design the space mission. The results of your team work will be presented to experts during a final presentation day and published online on the V4 Space Summer School website. Learn from the experts from industry, academia and NGOs to acquire the technical knowledge, non-technical skills (communication, organisation and space policy) needed to enter the space industry!
Program
Lectures from industry experts on space systems engineering, covering the major satellite subsystems such as: On-Board Data Handling (OBDH), Electrical Power System (EPS), Communications (COMM), Attitude and Orbit Control System (AOCS) and Structures & Mechanisms, and mission analysis methods
Participants will attend lectures from industry experts covering fundamental aspects of space systems engineering. The sessions will focus on key satellite subsystems, including:
On-Board Data Handling (OBDH) – managing satellite operations and data processing.
Electrical Power System (EPS) – energy generation, storage, and distribution in space.
Communications (COMM) – ensuring reliable signal transmission and reception.
Attitude and Orbit Control System (AOCS) – controlling satellite orientation and trajectory.
Structures & Mechanisms – designing mechanical frameworks and deployment mechanisms.
Additionally, students will explore mission analysis methods, learning how to define objectives, assess feasibility, and optimize mission parameters.
Concurrent design workshops aimed at designing your own space mission. Become the engineer responsible for one of the subsystems and negotiate the shape of the mission with the rest of the team
Through Concurrent Design Facility (CDF) workshops, participants will engage in a hands-on space mission design challenge. Each student will assume a role as an engineer responsible for a specific subsystem, working collaboratively to integrate their designs into a cohesive mission concept. Teams will practice negotiation, systems engineering methodologies, and decision-making strategies while iterating on their designs with guidance from expert mentors.
Expert lectures on space policy and space industry landscape in the V4 countries, especially institutions and determinants of cooperation. Mountain excursions and integration .
These sessions will offer an in-depth look at the space policy landscape in the V4 countries (Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia) and the broader European framework. Topics include:
Institutional landscape – key organizations, agencies, and partnerships in the space sector.
Policy frameworks – regulations shaping the development of space activities.
International cooperation – determinants of collaboration and funding opportunities.
Beyond lectures, students will participate in interactive industry mapping exercises and networking activities. Additionally, excursions to space-related facilities and mountain expeditions will provide opportunities for informal learning, team bonding, and relaxation.
Calendar
V4 Space Summer School Agenda
The V4 Space Summer School offers a dynamic program designed to provide participants with an interdisciplinary perspective on space systems engineering, policy, and teamwork.
The program consists of the following key activities:
Recruitment information
When?
6-15 July 2025 Where? Glider Academic Centre of the Rzeszów University of Technology in Bezmiechowa - a beautiful site in the Carpathian Mountains
For whom?
Students (Bachelor, Master or PhD) and and young professionals (up to 2 years of work experience or first post-doctoral position) enrolled or working in the V4 countries (Slovakia, Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary)
Fee
A registration fee for participating in the school is 200 Euro which covers accommodation and meals. The cost of all educational and integration activities are covered by the Visegrad Fund.
The project is co-financed by the governments of Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia through Visegrad Grants from the International Visegrad Fund. The mission of the fund is to advance ideas for sustainable regional cooperation in Central Europe.
Sponsors
Project Partners
